CCPD, FMPD release annual crime statistics

February 28, 2014

Local law enforcement agencies reported a drop in crime in 2013, compared to the prior year.

On Friday, the Cape Coral Police Department and the Fort Myers Police Department released their Annual Uniform Crime Report statistics for last year. According to officials, both agencies experienced a decrease in the total number of violent crimes and property crimes in 2013, as compared to 2012.

A total of 3,572 crimes were reported in the Cape in 2013, a 4.75 percent decline from 3,750 in the previous year. The FMPD clocked 3,031 crimes last year, a 2.23 percent drop from 3,100 in 2012.

As the Cape observed a decline among violent offenses across the board from year to year, the FMPD reported the same number of sex offenses - 61 - while the total robberies rose to 185 in 2013.

"The reduction of violent crime, in particular homicides, can be attributed to the growing partnership with our community coupled with the strong relationships we have with our counterparts on the local, state and federal level," Fort Myers Police Chief Douglas Baker said via a prepared statement Friday.

"We are committed to the many strategic programs aims at strengthening and fostering these extremely valuable endeavors as we move forward," he said.

For property crimes, which cover burglaries, thefts and motor vehicle thefts, the CCPD had 3,375 last year - a 4.1 percent decrease from 2012. Fort Myers had 2,279 in 2013 - a 2.86 percent drop.

While the Cape saw motor vehicle thefts increase 27.2 percent last year to 145 incidents, the FMPD reported that thefts rose on their side of the river - up 5.31 percent in 2013 to 1,726 incidents.

"We are encouraged by the declines in both violent and non-violent crime here in Cape Coral," Cape Coral Police Chief Bart Connelly said via a prepared statement Friday, pointing to the hard work of the department's officers and staffers in helping to "make Cape Coral a safe place to live, work and play."

"We must also acknowledge the tremendous partnership that we have with our community," he said. "Without the terrific relationship that we enjoy with our citizens, there types of results just wouldn't be possible."

In Cape Coral, the Index Crime Rate dropped from 2341.1 in 2012 to 2217.7 last year.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office UCR statistics for 2013 were unavailable Friday.